Process of tanning hides



UNITED STATES PAT NT @FFTCE.

JOSEPH HEAD, OF HORNELLSVILLE, NEW YORK.

PROCESS OF TANNING HIDES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,442, dated May 2, 1882.

Application filed December 6, 188i.

T 0 (all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH HEAD, a citizen of the United States,residing at I-Iornellsville, in the county of Steuben and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Tan nin g Hides, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a process of tanning hides; and itconsists in the following steps or separate portions ot'the entire process, which are carried into eifect in the order set forth, and particularly designated in the claim.

The first step consists in soaking the hides, as they are removed from the animal, in a vat of water about eight feet long, four feet wide, and four feet deep, into which has been poured a mixture of one-half pound of saltpeter, one pound of potash, one pound of oil of vitriol, and twenty pounds of rock-salt. This solution preserves the hides from decomposition, prevents the gelatine from dissolving, and assists in the liming process. They remain in soak from one to two hours.

The second step consists in [leshing the hides after they have been soaked.

The third step consists in placing the hides in a vat of water of about thedimensions given above, into which has been poured a mixture of one bushel of quicklime and one and one-half pound of sal-soda. By the use of this mixture the time necessary to lime the hides is shortened to about six hours. This solution rapidly removes the albuminous substances which hold the hair, but preserves the gelatine intact.

After the hides have been taken from the lime above described, they are'ready for the fourth step, which consists in soaking them in a vat of water at a temperature of about 110 Fahrenheit. They are allowed to remain in this Vat about two hours, though a shorter ti me will accomplish the purpose as well.

The fifth step consists in removing the hair and lime-shaving the hides.

The sixth step consists in scourin g them upon the grain sidetoremoveallforeign substances, and prepares them for the coloring-liquor. It is seen that after the hides have been limeshaved they are not placed in abate, asis usually done, but are immediately scoured. This method I have discovered prepares them for the tan better than the processin common use.

(No specimens.)

The seventh step consists in coloring the hides. To do this they are placed in a coloring-iiquor colored by the different substances well known among tanners. The hides remain in this liquor until they have acquired the desired color, which can beascertained by watch ing them. They areimmediately scoured when taken out, which removes all sediment and unnatural grain, and constitutes the eighth step of the process. 7

The ninth step consists in applying the tanning solution. To do this the hides are spread out upon atable or floor and the solution well rubbed in with a swab or brush. The hides are next laid away in a pile, which is the tenth step. They remain in the pile from two to fifteen days, according to the character of the leather to be tanned. \Vhile in the pile the hides are handled once a day' or oftener, more of the solution applied, and the hides returned to the pile. If, however, it is desired to retain the color upon either side of the hide, the tanning solution is applied to the opposite side from that upon which the color is to be re tained, the solution is well boarded in upon that side, the hides folded together separately with the side which is to retain the color outward, and replaced in the coloring solution. If it is desircdto retain the color upon both sides of the hide, the tanning solution is applied to both sides, is well boarded in, the hides spread out flat, and returned to the coloring-liquoin The hides remain in this liquor from two to fifteen days, according to the character of the leather to be tanned. While undergoing this process the hides are handled once or twice a day, scoured, more of the solution applied, and returned to the liquor.

The eleventh step, which consists in sammying the hides, is then carried into effect.

The twelfth step consists in scouring them on both sides, the thirteenth step in setting them out on a table or floor and flattening them with a slicker, and hanging them up to dry. When the hides have become dry they are taken down, placed upon a table or floor, and stuffed, which constitutes the fourteenth step.

The fifteenth step is then carried into effect, and consists in packing the hides down in a pile and covering them up to protect them from currents of air and from the light, which allows the stuffing to penetrate them without injury to the color. The length of time the hides remain in the pileis optional, though the shortest time aiecessary to obtain good results is two hours.

The sixteenth step consists in dipping the hides singly in a vat of water at a temperature of about 120 Fahrenheit, which completely drives in all the stuffing previously applied. After the hides have been dipped they are immediately struck out and hung up to dry,

which is the seventeenth step.

The eighteenth step consists in whitening, trimming, and boarding them after they have dried, and by which they are made ready for the blackin g. Y

The nineteenth step consists in blackiug the hides. I do this with a composition of one pound of lamp-black, one and one-half pound of Babbitts soap, boiled together in three gallons of water. The advantages 1 gain by this composition are that it softens and improves vthe texture of the leather, or, in other words,

makes it mellow. I have discovered that Babbitts soap gives the best results for this purpose.

The twentieth stepis then carried into effect, and consists in smutting the hides off and applying oil and gum-tragacanth to them.

The twenty-first step consists in glassing them down and hanging them up to dry.

The twenty-second step completes the process, and consists in gumming them off with clear gum-tragaeanth after they have dried.

What I claim is The process of tanning hides herein described, consistingofthe following steps, which succeed each other in the order designated: first, placing the hides in a vat of water into which has been poured a mixture of one-half pound saltpeter, one pound oil of vitriol, one pound potash, and twenty pounds rock-salt; second, fleshing the hides after they have been soaked; third, soaking them in a vat of water into which has been poured a mixture of one bushel of quicklime and one and one-half ponndof sal-soda afterthey have been fleshed; fourth, soaking the hides in a vat of water at a temperature of about 110 Fahrenheit after they have been limed; fifth, removing thehair and lime-shaving the hides; sixth, scouring the hides immediately after the hair is removed and they have been lime-shaved; seventh, coloring them; eighth, scouring the hides after they have been colored to remove all sediment and unnatural grain; ninth, the application of the tannin; tenth, laying the hides away in a pile after the tannin has been applied; eleventh, sam myin g them after they have been tanned; twelfth, scouring them on both sides; thirteenth, setting them out with a slicker and hanging them up to dry; fourteenth, stuffing them after they have become dry; fifteenth, packing them in a pile and'covering them up after they have been stuffed sixteenth, dipping them singly in a vat of water at a temperature of about 120 Fahrenheit after they have been taken from the pile; seventeenth, striking them out and drying them after they have been dipped; eighteenth, whitening, trimming, and boarding them after they have dried; nineteenth, blacking them with a composition of one pound of lamp-black, one and one-half pound of Babbitts soap, boiled in three galions of water; twentieth, smutting them off and applying gum-tragacanth and oil after they have been blacked; twenty-first, glassing them down and drying them; twenty-second, gumming them off with cleargum-tragacanth after they have dried.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH HEAD. 

